It is March, and we all know what that means… you need to grab a green beer, pretend to be Irish (if you already are not), turn on some March Madness college basketball, and get those taxes filed. To most of us, if you actually get money back from your taxes it is not a “tax refund” it is only more “gun money.” Let’s be serious, here. So for the 5th installment of the Reader’s Choice voting, we are going to look at something we maybe already have and may not need, but would gladly spend a tax return on. We are looking for your feedback and votes on the Best AR-15 in a stock or factory configuration. So for the entire month of March, we are asking you… What is the Best AR-15?

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This is the fifth installment for Reader’s Choice Awards.  Based on feedback from our Subject-Matter-Experts (you, our beloved readers) we are going to play around with the selection criteria.  Many of you commented that you felt certain guns should have been included on past lists that we missed. In general:

• Each month we are going to host a poll that you can vote on
• Each month will be a different category (Optics, Revolver, Bolt Action Rifle, Concealed Carry Pistol, etc)
• The list of entries will be curated from the top sales in the preceding six months.  This is solely to introduce some objectivity into it; there must be some popularity if it tops the sales list (or is horrifically expensive)
• A random winner will be picked from voters and that winner will get some swag
• You can vote for your choice every day while the poll is running and you can earn an extra entry for telling us WHY you chose it (we will pick some of the most creative and highlight them during the results post)
• At the end of the month, we will post the winning choice (along with the other results) and the company will get some bragging rights (if they want them). They do not get a swag pack.

You, the readers, get to suggest items that should be part of this poll.  Each day we will troll our own comments section and look for suggestions that have four (4) or more “upvotes,” and those will be added to the poll.  Since you will be allowed to vote daily, there is always a chance that your suggestion could make it to the top!

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To begin, we will attempt to establish a baseline for your suggestions and voting. When we state what is the “best AR-15,” we mean that in a pretty open sense. If you think there is some pigeon-hole caliber AR-15 that is the best, that is totally cool with us, but you need a good argument to back it up in the Comments. Otherwise, your fellow readers will not “Upvote” your suggestion. Also, this is not limited to only 5.56 NATO rifles. While that is surely the most popular caliber we are open to other suggestions. Another thing to make note of is your suggestions or votes do not need to be economy-based. If you think a $10K AR-15 is the best, throw it out there! The only problem is you need a rational argument for how most other people could afford it or why they should save up for it. So cheap or expensive, 5.56 NATO or not, household name brand or specialty company… we will take any and all suggestions for Best AR-15 as long as it is a catalog or factory stock model. Other than that, we as always are open to your suggestions through the Comments section. If you wholly believe some rifle we did not mention is deserving of being on the list and winning… Let us know!

Once again, please Vote daily… provide us in the Comments with your own suggestions for the MANUFACTURER, MODEL, and CALIBER of the BEST AR-15 (Stock, Factory Model)… and entertain these manufacturers and models to start (in no specific order)…

Smith & Wesson M&P-15 Sport II 5.56 NATO [MSRP $739] – 16″ Armornite Barrel, Magpul MBUS Folding Rear Sight, 30 Round Magpul Magazine, Chrome Firing Pin

 

Ruger AR-556 5.56 NATO [MSRP $799] – 16.1″ Matte Black Oxide Barrel w/ 1:8″ Twist, Single-Stage Trigger, Chrome Plated Bolt Carrier & Gas Key, Ruger Rapid Deploy Folding Rear Sight

 

Springfield Armory SAINT 5.56 NATO [MSRP $919] – Bravo Company Buttstock/Pistol Grip/Handguard/Trigger Guard, Nickel Boron GI Trigger, 16″ Melonite Barrel w/ 1:8 Twist

Sig Sauer M400 Tread 5.56 NATO [MSRP $949] – 16″ Stainless Steel Barrel, Free-Floating M-LOK Handguard, Ambidextrous Controls, Single-Stage Polished/Hard-Coat Trigger

Savage Arms MSR-15 Patrol .223 Wylde [MSRP $869] – 16″ Melonite Barrel w/ 1:8″ Twist, Blackhawk! Pistol Grip/Handguard/Buttstock, Mil-Spec Enhanced Trigger, 5R Rifling

Windham Weaponry MPC-RF 5.56 NATO [MSRP $925] – 16″ M4 Profile Chrome Lined Barrel, Diamondhead Flip Rear Sight, M4 Feed Ramps

LMT SPM16 5.56 NATO [MSRP $1,399] – 16″ Cryogenically Treated Barrel w/ 1:7″ Twist, Single-Stage Trigger, Standard Issue Service Rifle w/ LMT Quality Parts

Daniel Defense DDM4 V11 LW 5,56 NATO [MSRP $1,679] – 16″ Lightweight Profile Barrel w/ 1:7″ Twist, Mid-Length Gas System, M16 Chrome Lined BCG, 15″ DD Slim Rail

Bushmaster XM15 Standard (A2 Heavy Barrel Carbine) 5.56 NATO [MSRP $895] – 16″ HBAR Chrome Lined Barrel, M16 Bolt Carrier, M4 Feed Ramps, 30 Round Magpul Magazine

BCM RECCE-14 KMR-A Carbine 5.56 NATO [MSRP $1,500] – 14.5″ Barrel w/ Permanent Compensator (16.1″ Overall), Chrome Lined Bore & Chamber, Mid-Length Gas System

FN FN-15 SRP Tactical 5.56 NATO [MSRP $1,199] – 16″ Chrome-Lined Button-Broached Barrel, 12″ Lightweight M-LOK Rail, FN Combat Trigger

Colt LE6920 M4 Carbine 5.56 NATO [MSRP $1,099] – 16.1″ Chrome Lined Barrel w/ 1:7″ Twist, Magpul Flip-Up Rear Sight, 30 Round Magpul PMAG Magazine

Do you believe all of these rifles we mentioned deserve being in the discussion?… Does this initial list suck?… Or do you agree with it?… What are your suggestions?… In any case, vote, let us know your thoughts in the Comments below, and make your suggestions that you think would be appropriate!

If you want to see a rifle added to the voting list, make sure to include the Manufacturer, Model, AND caliber.  Only entries with 4 or more “upvotes” will be included.

POLL NOW OPEN!